Domain name scam?

[Redmax]

We've received an email this morning which I'm sure must be the beginnings of a scam but no idea how.

I've changed our actual company name to [our company name] below but the email says:

"Dear CEO,

We are the department of Asian Domain registration service in china, have something need to confirm with you. We formally received an application on May 3, 2011, one company which called "Fbcdt Trading Co.,LTD" are applying to register "[Our company name]" as brand name and following Domains:
[Our company name].asia
[Our company name].cn
[Our company name].com.cn
[Our company name].com.hk
[Our company name].com.tw
[Our company name].hk
[Our company name].in
[Our company name].tw
After our initial examination, we found that the brand name applied for registration is as same as your company using name and brand. These days we are dealing with it, hope to get the affirmation from your company. if your company did not authorize the aforesaid company to register these, please contact us as soon as possible.

In addition, we hereby affirm that our time limit is 7 workdays. If your company files no reply within the time limit, we will unconditionally approve the application submitted by "Fbcdt Trading Co.,LTD".

Best Regards,

Andy huang
Senior consultant

We're pretty unlikely to be setting up an Asian branch any time soon. Is this to be ignored or replied to?

Cheers

[Sheets Tabuer]

They are trying to sell you the domains.

Ignore it.

[don4l]

Ignore it. It is indeed a scam.

I've had this several times over the years.


Don
--

[Simpo Two]

As a second check, 'Fbcdt Trading Co' is not on Google.

[Vixpy1]

I've had one of those recently, so well written I actually considered it, then i came to my senses

[Simpo Two]

I have 'vixpy.one' for sale if you're interested?

[russy01]

Defo-a-scam.com

[influential]

Had similar phone calls in the past around this, and from UK companies talking about various UK-based domain extensions. It's a scam - just ignore it.

[Simpo Two]

I hate it when people try to sell you one thing by pretending it's something else. Why can't they just say 'Do you want to buy these domains?' instead of lying?

Two girlies came round yesterday from TalkTalk. They said they wanted to know if I'd had a letter from TalkTalk about changes at the local exchange. After a few questions it was clear they were actually selling 'free broadband'. Bint One then went for the jugular and said 'Mind if I come in and write the details donwn for you?' No you bloody can't!

To anyone from TalkTalk who may be reading this: 'I don't want fking free broadband. Ever. OK?'



ETA: Actually Bint One was quite pretty. Perhaps I should have said 'Why yes dear, there's a table in my bedroom upstairs...' and rubbed my fingerless gloves together...

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 5th May 12:02

[Redmax]

Where's that pic of the smiling guy in the caribbean on the phone when you need it?

[mrmr96]

Those domains probably are available, they're just trying to make you think someone else is trying to buy them, so as to scare/motivate you into buying them yourself. If you want to secure the domains (assuming they've not been speculativly registered already) then just use your existing web services provider to register them. If they HAVE been speculativly registered by that scamming company, you can either buy them from them (not advised) or just ignore it. Your customers will not likely get confused by the addresses!

[Man-At-Arms]

Redmax said:

Where's that pic of the smiling guy in the caribbean on the phone when you need it?

George Agdgdgwngo

[Redmax]

Man-At-Arms said:

George Agdgdgwngo

Perfect.

[Nimby]

[bump]

Ignore any emails from ukdt.org - "UK Domains and Trademarks" - warning that someone is trying to claim a domain name similar to yours and offering to register it for you (at double the going rate).